Friday, 21 December 2012

Over the past month I've had the pleasure of having many
fantastic readers and writers join me in my Campaign to get Santa to put a book
in every stocking, by writing to the Man-in-Red suggesting stocking filler
books. It’s been great fun reading peoples letters to Santa as we all believe
that ALL children love reading it’s just that some haven’t found the right book
yet, so helping Father Christmas find the right book for each stocking has been
very rewarding.

However it is a sad truth that some children are poverty
stricken and can’t afford even a stocking to hang for Santa to fill. These
children are amongst us, and we probably pass them every day. These children may
well not receive any gifts as their parents can barely afford to put food on
the table, let alone buy presents. As we all know Santa's Sat-Nav locks on to stockings, so he may be liable to miss these children altogether.

So it’s time for us to give Santa a helping hand! Today I ventured
in to Oxford, to the Blackwell’s Book Shop, as I had heard a rumour of Christmas
goodwill. Goodwill, I found in the form
of the ‘Children’s Book Tree’ in the children’s department. The Children’s Book Tree has tags on it, and has a description of a child, (gender, age, reading ability
& likes) that is from a disadvantaged back ground, who otherwise would not
get any Christmas presents. You can pick a tag off the tree and buy a book, for
that child. The book is then gift wrapped and the gift tag (that you write a
message on) attached and delivered to the child.

I
love this idea and chose a tag for a ‘Six year old girl who loves to laugh’, therefore
buying ‘Agatha Parrot and the Floating Head’ by Kjartan Poskitt and David
Tazzyman. Whilst paying for the book I spoke to the lovely sales assistant who
told me that they have already sold, wrapped and distributed over 270 books.
She then pointed out a healthy stack of wrapped books ready to be delivered and
a pile of new tags to be hung on the tree. Apparently the initiative has been
so successful you can now order ‘Children’s Book Tree’ gifts on-line so press here to find out more or call 0131 6228225, alternatively if you’re local to Oxford pop in to make sure a child
that would otherwise go without gets a gift this Christmas.

I also discovered another Christmas Goodwill book initiative at the end of my road, this
is a Christmas Book Crossing tree. This tree periodically gets transformed into
a book tree by one of our village residents, so that children can pick off a
book, read it and pass it on.

What a great idea, so maybe if your children have any books they no longer want you could wrap them up, and hang them on a tree for other children to take, you never know it may make a child’s Christmas!

So please help Santa and spread a bit of Christmas goodwill by making sure every child gets a book this Christmas.

Thursday, 20 December 2012

I would love Santa to put in a First Edition copy of the Grimm's Fairy Tales in each stocking, but as that may be a tad tricky and not all of us can speak German, here is a few alternative suggestions (PLEASE excuse mistakes, was having a particularly bad dyslexic day!)...

So, Thank-You Santa, for Listening to all our #Book_in_Every_Stocking suggestions. Please take heed and use our suggestions to fine the right book for every child (no matter how old!).

Thanks everyone for stopping by and supporting the Book In Every Stocking Campaign. Please Tweet / FaceBook;#Book_in_Every_Stocking to support us, and maybe Tweet your Stocking Book Filler Suggestion for Santa Too!

200 Year's old today! On the 20th December 1812 Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm First published their, 'Kinder- und Hausmärchen' / Childhood and Household Tales, which now iconically known as the Grimm's Fairy Tales. I am Uber Excitied about this fanastic anniversary, and will be back later today with a Grimm inspired #Book_in_Every_Stocking blog, so please come back and check it out later this afternoon!

Wednesday, 19 December 2012

I'm delighted to have yet another published writer on the
blog today supporting the #Book_in_Every_Stocking campaign. Today’s author is
uniquely qualified to recommend books as she is also a Librarian. So welcome
and a big thank you to Dawn Finch…

Dawn Finch is the author of the ghostly fantasy for 11+ readers – Brotherhood of Shades - pub Harper
Collins (authonomy), for more info press here. It is out now in e-edition (all formats) and in print
2013. Sadly it on in a physical form to go in this years stocking, but SANTA - it can be a great book to give anyone who is getting a e-reader for Christmas...

...and next year it'll be in traditional book form, ideal for stockings!

Thanks everyone for checking out the blog and supporting our campaign to get Santa to put a book in every stocking. If you want to support us further, then comments leaving your book stocking filler suggestion for Santa. Please remember that the louder we shout the more likely the big man in red is likely to here us in the north pole, so please tweet and Facebook...

Monday, 17 December 2012

I'm over the moon that Dougal Trump, freshly from a controversial
performance of an inn-keeper at his school nativity, has found time to suggest
a book stocking filler for Santa. Dougal is especially busy as he also works with,
‘Her’ Jackie Marchant, to pen his books. His first book; ‘ I'm Dougal Trump and
It’s Not My Fault’ is out now, and is a perfect stocking filler for small
people who love to laugh!

Thanks for checking out the the blog and supporting the 'Book in Every Stocking' Campaign. Please help us spread the word, as if we call shout then maybe Santa will hear! You can help spread the word by tweeting or FaceBooking...

Wednesday, 12 December 2012

Catherine
is a teacher, translator, aspiring picture book writer and mother to a four
year old. She also blogs at Story Snug where she recommends picture books
(mostly) to expats, new parents and non-native English speakers (or anybody who
loves picture books!). Catherine doesn't review books; she makes recommendations
all of which are books that she and her daughter enjoy.

To
find out more about the books that Catherine and her daughter love, visit the
Story Snug by Pressing Here.

Thanks for stopping by, and please comeback to see more
great book stocking-filler suggestions. Please feel free to comment and let us know
your suggestion for a fab stocking filler book, and we will pass it on to Santa!

If you liked campaign and wish to support us please tweet of
FaceBook;

Monday, 10 December 2012

Mo O’Hara made the journey across ‘The Big Pond’ from the
USA to the UK, where she made her home, and had a previous theatrical life. A
storyteller to the core, Mo found her vocation as a writer, her début novel; ‘My
Big Fat Zombie Goldfish’ is out in March 2013 published by Pan McMillan.

My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish’, is the adventures of Tom and
his pet fish Frankie. Everything takes a
sinister and hilarious turn when Tom’s, evil scientist big brother, uses Frankie
in an experiment with radioactive-gunge. Tom saves his fishy friend by bringing him
back form the dead with a battery, but Frankie has changed; he’s a zombie
goldfish and he wants revenge!

Sadly, 'My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish' is not available for stockings this year Santa. However listen up Easter Bunny, its out just in time, for Easter!

Thanks for stopping by and supporting the 'Book in Every Stocking Campaign!' If you wish to spread the word, then please Tweet or FaceBook....

Thursday, 6 December 2012

A Book in Every Stocking

by

Paula Harrison

Paula Harrison is the author of one of my Small People's favourite series of books; The Rescue Princesses. The Rescue Princesses are a group of princesses who tired of getting dressed up and attending balls, secretly learn ninja skills, and use them to save animals in peril.

Paula’s
first book, The Rescue Princesses; ‘The Secret Promise’, came out in April, and
was quickly followed by, ‘The Wishing Pearl’, ‘The Moonlit Mystery’ and ‘The Stolen Crystals’. The next Rescue Princesses daring adventure,’ The
Snow Pearl’, is published in January.

To
find out more about Paula’s books (that also make great stocking fillers Santa!) press here.

Please come back and check out the the other book stocking filler suggestions!

# Book_in_every_stocking

Please check out Read It Daddy's Book In Every Stocking post on his blog by Pressing Here

Wednesday, 5 December 2012

The campaign lobbing Santa
to 'Put a Book in Every Stocking' is gaining momentum. Here we have a beautiful
poem in support of the campaign by Elli, please check out her site for more heart-warming
poems by pressing here.

Starting tomorrow we will
have suggestion to Santa of books which will make great stocking fillers, by
authors, librarians' children and many other book loving folk. So please do remember
to come back and see what books are added to the stockings!

And don't forget to add this to use the tag if you Tweet or Facebook! #Book_in_every_stocking

Monday, 3 December 2012

It’s December, I know this because last night my husband and
I sat beside the fire and watched ‘The Nightmare before Christmas,’ whilst
drinking sherry and eating mince pies! Yes its advent, and the small people have been
writing there letters to Santa, and present lists for us.

I was thinking what would be on my letter to Santa?

1.Agent – don’t think Santa can help with that!

2.Publisher – Even less likely!

Then
only one other came up and it’s not for me, but for all the small people who
hang up there stockings on Christmas Eve….

My
wish is that every child has a book or comic in their stocking, that’ll
actually make them want to pick it up and read it. So that what I've written on
my letter to Santa.

I know that Santa may not have time to make lots of new
books, but he can pop out and get some maybe from an indie book shop see link
to my favourite indie book shop Mostly Books here. Or if he’s tight of cash he
could try a charity shop or a cheap in line book seller like Banana Books see link.

If
you would like to see this too, why not tweet or Facebook; #Dear_Santa_Book_in_every_Stocking.

Welcome

What to expect from my blog.

The blog has evolved since it started in 2011, to bring news and opinions (mine mostly!) of all thing books plus insights on writing, and dyslexia. From time to time I may blog about my writing projects and share any progress and news!

Give me a read, leave a comment, point out my dyslexia! just let me know what you think.